The management of Lumen

10 years of Lumen. A milestone to be rightly proud of and a great opportunity to give the two founders of this success a chance to speak. While Chris is visible with some regularity, his partner Patrick often "hides" behind the excel documents. From studying together at hotel school to running a successful hotel. We asked the gentlemen about their fondest memories and ambitions for the future.

"When you were a 10-year-old boy, did you always want to become a hotel director, let alone 3? Or did you have completely different ambitions?"

Chris: 'Until I actually went to hotel school, I wanted to become a chef. After hotel school, I had an international hotel manager position in mind. I got quite far with that, although it didn't end up with a foreign location. Ultimately, I saw entrepreneurship as the optimal way to put my own stamp on what you offer – create. That it had to have scale – I always had that on my list.'

Patrick: 'My grandfather used to have a hotel in the Achterhoek. The dynamics in that company appealed to me from a young age, but the ambition to become an entrepreneur myself wasn't there yet. After graduating from hotel school, I traveled a lot, also with Chris. I especially enjoy seeing a lot of the world, and working in a hotel can basically be done anywhere.'

"Looking back over the past 10 years, is there anything you would have done differently in hindsight?"

Chris: 'We have experienced economically tough times – some investments we could have postponed to get through these periods more easily. Of what we have invented, done, and made, I can't remember any real blunders.'

Patrick: 'It was actually only during the construction of the hotel that we made the choice to keep the toilets separate from the bathrooms, because this was how it worked out technically. In hindsight, that was a very good choice. I can't think of anything I would have wanted to do differently.'

"What is your fondest memory/anecdote from the past 10 years?"

Chris: 'The best experiences were those moments when Lumen was in full operation; moments like the evening after PEC Zwolle won the cup, the bustling weeks, or the Deltion staff party with more than 1,500 people. The opening of the hotel was also a special moment, something you have worked towards for years. When you have had the last (cleaning) touches together and the hotel has become what you envisioned, it's a fantastic feeling.'

Patrick: 'The best memory is the day before the official opening. That evening, all the construction workers with their partners were present and also stayed overnight. Most people had been working here for about 7 months and could now show the end result of what had also become a bit of "their" hotel to their families. It was incredibly fun to hear all the reactions. A typical example is that one of the supervisors of the installation company was not satisfied with the temperature of the hot water (after he had showered). As soon as he had breakfast, he went to the technical room to make some adjustments.'

"Which success are you most proud of?"

Chris: 'That there is a team that is proud of Lumen, that is there when they need to be, that works until all guests have left enthusiastically.'

Patrick: 'That we have established a healthy and successful hotel.'

"Where will Lumen be in 10 years, when we celebrate the 20th anniversary? Are there any wishes? Ambitions for the future?"

Chris: 'In 10 years, Lumen will undoubtedly have become a household name in the region – where everyone has been at least once and thus the place where you meet and accommodate your guests. It could very well be that by then a Lumen sister exists.'

Patrick: 'As Chris already indicates, it would be great if Lumen gets a sister in the future.'